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The Family Magazine of St Hilda’s, Ashford, Middlesex

CROSSROADCROSSROADCROSSROADSSS

Free - but donations welcome!

No. 714 November 2020

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The Parish of St Hilda, Ashford in the Diocese of London

Charity Reg. No. 1134119

Vicar Fr. Joseph Fernandes Phone: 01784 254237 e-mail: vicar@sthilda.org

Parish Office Denise Buttigieg St Hilda’s Parish Office, Stanwell Road Ashford, Middlesex TW15 3QL

Phone: 01784 253525 e-mail: office@sthilda.org

Church Web site: Facebook: Streetlife: Twitter:

www.sthilda.org StHildaAshford st-hildas @St_Hilda_Ashfrd

Parish PA: Contact via Parish Office

Lay Ministers: Carolyn Clark Rosalyn Young

Carolyn@sthilda.org Rosalyn@sthilda.org

Church Wardens: Bobbie Bedford Stuart Young

Contact via Parish Office

Church Hall Booking Secretary: Chris Davenport Phone: 01784 252170

CROSSROADS

Editor: Rosemary Greenwood e-mail: crossroads_ashford@hotmail.com

Circulation: Valerie Scott Phone: 01784 254748

Advertising: Contact via Parish Office

Deadline for December 2020 copy is Sunday 8th November

Post typed or written copy, CD discs or memory sticks

at the Parish Office, or e-mail:

crossroads_ashford@hotmail.com

For the latest information on

Church Services at St. Hilda's,

Zoom meetings etc., please see

the church web site:

www.sthilda.org

Things change too quickly to

include in a monthly publica-

tion!

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There was a woman in a parish church who for years sin-

gle handled looked after all the clothes donated to those in

need. It was a labour of love which involved sorting all

the clothes, wash them, press them and carefully prepare

them to find their way to different places across the com-

munity, which she also looked after. The clothes' journey

from donation to distribution was accompanied by a

prayer of blessing to all those who would receive them in

the end. In fact, she gave away more than clothes: she showed unconditional

acceptance. This woman was also actively involved in several other areas in

the parish for many years and was a faithful servant, until her premature

death. She always found ways to avoid public acknowledgement of her min-

istry as she felt it was an integral part of her call as a Christian. Her faith and

commitment outlive her and many years later she is still remembered.

This story is a tribute to my grandmother and to all those who like her are

the core group of people who keep churches going, embodying the true spirit

of servanthood.

At St Hilda’s there was such group of people: the Hall Committee. Over

many years they faithfully oversaw the day to day running of the Church

Hall, and made an invaluable contribution to the life of the parish.

Alas, in more recent times, due to an operational reshuffling at St. Hilda’s,

which was compounded by the pandemic, the Committee had one last meet-

ing before being dissolved. It was not a decision taken lightly.

On behalf of the church family at St Hilda’s, to which you belong, I would

like to express my deepest gratitude to all those who have been part of the

Hall Committee over the years. Their commitment will not be forgotten.

“Well done, good and faithful servant[s]”.

Fr. Joseph Fernandes

THE PROMISE OF ADVENT (29th November is the start of Advent)

Stir up our hearts, we beseech you,

to prepare ourselves to receive your Son.

When He comes and knocks, may He find us not sleeping in sin,

But awake to righteousness,

Ceaselessly rejoicing in His love.

May our hearts and minds be so purified,

That we may be ready to receive His promise of eternal life.

from The Gelasian Sacramentary, c.500

(the oldest official prayer book of the Western Church)

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THE SOLDIER’S PRAYER

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve,

I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked for health, that I might do greater things,

I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.

I asked for riches, that I might be happy,

I was given poverty, that I might be wise.

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,

I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,

I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for –

But everything that I had hoped for,

Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am among all men most richly blessed.

Soldier in American Civil War

POPPY APPEAL 2020

Look out for the Poppy Appeal again this year, but not so much via street collec-

tions. Instead, the Royal British Legion will focus on contactless donations, as a

safer way forward during the pandemic.

One such method will be ‘point of sale donations’. This means that when you shop

at your supermarket and reach the till or online, you may be invited to round up

your total to the nearest pound to help the Poppy Appeal.

A spokesman for the Royal British Legion said: “The Poppy Appeal 2020 is very

much still going ahead”, but that “the safety and wellbeing of our volunteers, staff

and members is paramount.

This means that collectors who fall into the vulnerable category have been advised

“not to take part in activity on behalf of the Poppy Appeal that would expose them

to any additional risks while coronavirus is still present.”

And yet the need is still huge: “Members of the Armed Forces Community are

suffering significant hardship as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak and we at the

Royal British Legion will do everything we possibly can to support them.”

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DON’T ‘GO IT ALONE’

If you are helping others at this time, remember to still leave space and

time for yourself. Going the extra mile for other people all the time will only

ensure one thing; your collapse. Work in teams. Even the Good Samaritan

did not attempt to help the injured man all on his own; he brought in the inn-

keeper. By sharing the problem, they solved it!

COMMUNITIES of HOPE

I read with interest in the October issue of “Good News”, (delivered to me

by some Baptist neighbours), that the Church of England has awarded £24

million in grants to spread the gospel and start social action projects across

the nation.

The Diocese of Durham has been awarded £4.2 million to launch centres

in Sunderland, Hartlepool and Easington (former East Durham coalfields).

My Grandmother’s family were miners from Easington. This is an invest-

ment in people of the North East, where towns and villages are still recover-

ing from pit closures.

The “Communities of Hope” will be new forms of Christian gatherings.

One of these groups at Murton near Sunderland plans to take over vacant

shop units and existing church owned buildings, and they will be open every

day.

Valerie Scott

Thank you to everyone involved with St.

Hilda's contribution to October's Jumble

Trail, whether donating goods, sorting,

setting out, selling, buying, or clearing up.

The amount of goods donated was amazing - as was the amount raised for

church funds: over £1.000.

As you may have heard, or read in the weekly

news sheet, we are planning an art installation in

church for Remembrance. A number of people

are busy producing knitted or crocheted poppies.

We look forward to seeing the finished result…

Ed

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1st November: ALL SAINTS’ DAY – the feast day of all the redeemed

All Saints, or All Hallows, is the feast of all

the redeemed, known and unknown, who are

now in heaven. When the English Reformation

took place, the number of saints in the calendar

was drastically reduced, with the result that All

Saints’ Day stood out with a prominence that it

had never had before.

This feast day first began in the East, perhaps as early as the 5th century, as com-

memorating ‘the martyrs of the whole world’. A Northern English 9th century cal-

endar named All Hallows as a principal feast, and such it has remained. Down the

centuries devotional writers have seen in it the fulfilment of Pentecost and indeed of

Christ’s redemptive sacrifice and resurrection.

The saints do not belong to any religious tradition, and their lives and witness to

Christ can be appreciated by all Christians.

1,255 ancient English churches were dedicated to All Saints - a number only sur-

passed by those dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

3rd November: HUBERT and the stag

The morality of hunting has made the headlines in recent years, but here at least

was one man who was converted while hunting. Hubert (bishop, d 727 AD) was out

on Good Friday hunting stag when he came across a stag with a crucifix between its

antlers. This so shook him that he converted to Christianity, and then went on to

become Bishop of Tongres-Maestricht. History does not tell us if he killed the stag

or not, or if he ever hunted stag again.

5th November: GUY FAWKES - an early terrorist

Back in 1605 Guy Fawkes managed to stow a good

few barrels of gunpowder under the House of Lords

without anybody noticing. He was part of a Roman

Catholic plot to murder James 1 of England and his

parliament at the state opening. Fortunately, Guy

Fawkes was found - and stopped - in time.

13th November: FRANCES XAVIER CABRINI – first ‘saint’ of New York City

In the aftermath of the terrorist attack on America in 2001, many Americans were

seen to be ‘saintly’ in their brave attempts to help save lives. But Frances (1850 –

1917) was the first citizen of the United States to be officially canonised as a saint –

by Pope Pius XII in 1946. She founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart,

and worked among orphans, children and the sick of New York.

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To advertise in this magazine contact:

St Hilda’s Parish Office, Stanwell Road Ashford, Middlesex TW15 3QL

Phone: 01784 253525 e-mail: office@sthilda.org

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Gentle Pilates Classes

Every Friday Morning 9.00

St Hilda's Small Hall.

The class is followed by a FREE WEEKLY WALK at 10:15

(non Pilates members welcome)

For more information visit www.primapilates.co.uk

Please call first as spaces are limited! 07506001406 Richard

at St Hilda’s Church Hall,

Stanwell Road, Ashford

OFSTED Registered Pre-school

for Children aged 2½–5 years

For more information and a

prospectus please call Alison on

01784 243570

Term Time Only:

Mon—Thu (9am - 3pm) &

Fridays (9am - 1pm)

St Hilda’s Church Hall Stanwell Road, Ashford,

Middlesex, TW15 3QL

Halls for hire

Planning a celebration, party or

meeting?

Need a venue for a function?

The Main and Small Halls at

St Hilda’s are available for Hire.

Rates start from

under £10 per hour.

For details and availability, contact

the Hall Booking Secretary:

Chris Davenport 01784 252170

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6th November: WILLIAM TEMPLE - Archbishop of Canterbury

During the Second World War, Winston Churchill was Britain’s Prime Minister.

At the same time, William Temple was Archbishop of Canterbury. While Churchill

led the country against Germany, Temple encouraged the British people to trust the

Lord for their deliverance and strength. Like Churchill, Temple was a great leader, a

gifted orator and a prolific writer. He was also a theologian and social activist.

Temple was born on 15th October 1881 in Exeter, Devon. He was educated at

Rugby School and Balliol College, Oxford, from 1900 to1904. He loved the music

of Bach; the poetry of Browning and Shelley, and Shakespeare. He was an avid

reader and possessed a near-photographic memory.

He became president of the Oxford Union and after graduation, was a lecturer in

philosophy at Queen's College, Oxford. He was a member of the debating society

and was a skilled and balanced debater. Following his ordination in 1909, and

priesting in 1910, Temple was headmaster of Repton School for four years. He mar-

ried Frances Anson in 1916. They were childless.

From 1921-29 Temple was Bishop of Manchester. During this time he was seen as

a pioneer of the Ecumenical Movement and gradually became a national figure. In

1926 he urged the British government to seek a negotiated agreement to the General

Strike.

Temple excelled as a moderator; a teacher and a preacher and his appointment as

Archbishop of York (1929-40) was a popular one. His influence also led to the for-

mation of the British Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches. Dur-

ing the 2nd World War he jointly founded the Council of Christians and Jews to

combat anti-Semitism and other forms of prejudice in Britain.

As Archbishop of Canterbury (1942-44) Temple became an outspoken advocate of

social reform and became involved in the campaign against unemployment, poverty

and poor housing. He believed in the rights of all people, whether rich or poor, and

was a leading force for social justice. He was grounded in the problems of the

working man and in his book Christianity and Social Order (1942) he shared his

vision for all to have access to healthcare, education and decent housing. His radical

thinking and activism played a foundational role in the formation of the British

Welfare State.

Temple died aged 63 at Westgate-on-Sea, Kent on 26th October 1944. He was the

first Primate of All England to be cremated and his ashes were buried in the cloister

garden of Canterbury Cathedral. He is the last Archbishop of Canterbury to have

died while in office.

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‘RENEWAL' FOR CHURCH IS COMING DESPITE ‘TRAUMA’ OF PANDEMIC – ARCHBISHOPS

The Church will emerge “renewed and changed” from the crisis of the

global coronavirus pandemic, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York

have said.

In a recent joint address to members of the Church of England’s General

Synod, Archbishops Justin Welby and Stephen Cottrell said that amid a

time of trauma, loss and struggle in this country and around the world,

Christians have proved to be a “people of hope”.

The address came at the start of special, one-day sitting of Synod in Lon-

don, with reduced numbers, to make a rule change to enable it to meet re-

motely during pandemic restrictions.

Archbishop Justin acknowledged the multiple challenges and crises we

are facing including hunger, poverty, domestic violence and climate

change.

He said churches have played a vital role serving their communities and

bringing hope through the gospel. But the Church itself will, he said,

emerge changed.

“We do not know what kind of Church of England will emerge from this

time except that it will be different,” he said.

“It will be changed by the reality that for the first time all churches have

closed - first time in 800 years. It will be changed because for the first

time we have worshipped virtually.”

He continued: “Out of these times we will see renewal - not because we

are clever but because God is faithful.

“We will see a renewed and changed Church emerging from the shocks

of lockdown.

“It is a Church that at the most local has fed so many, been in touch with

the isolated through the heroic efforts of all who take part in it, of clergy

and laity and those who even weren’t near the church before these times.

“It is a Church which has continued to pray and to offer worship through

our Lord Jesus Christ, even if in new and unusual ways.”

Archbishop Stephen spoke with emotion about the impact of pandemic.

“I hate this Coronavirus,” he said.

“I hate it not only because so many people have died, but because so

many people have died alone, unable to hold the hand of their beloved.

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“I hate it because our health service has been stretched to the limit. I hate

it because so many are bereaved and could not even sit next to a family

member at a funeral.

“I hate it because weddings and baptisms and ordinations have been post-

poned or have gone ahead without the parties that were meant to be with

them.

“I hate it because children’s schooling has been disrupted. I hate it be-

cause so many people are so ill, so many crying out in pain, so many iso-

lated, lonely, fearful, depressed.

“I hate it because behind locked doors terrible things have happened. I

hate it because the poor and the disadvantaged have been hit the hardest.

“I hate it because it has left so many people across the world feeling

hopeless as if life itself has been taken from us.”

But he said he was also thankful for the faithfulness of all who have

served others during the crisis and risen to the challenge.

He added: “I am thankful that despite all the horrors of a Covid world we

are learning a new commitment to Christ and how to be a humbler, sim-

pler, church and we are putting Christ at the centre of our lives and learn-

ing very, very, very painfully what it really means to be a church that is

dependent on Christ alone.

“And I am filled for longing: I long for us to be a more Christ-centred

and Jesus-shaped church witnessing to Christ and bringing the healing

The Church is the only society in the world that never loses any of its mem-bers, even by death. – John Blanchard There is little good in filling churches with people who go out exactly the same as they came in; the call of the Church is not to fill churches but to fill heaven. - Fr Andrew SDC A clear conscience is the sign of a bad memory. – Mark Twain

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Harvest celebrates

All God’s gifts

Rain, snow, sleet and sun

Visited on the Earth

Encourages plants to grow

Sustaining animals

To feed and clothe us

Floods, fires and droughts rage

Eroding and damaging the land

Striking fear, killing people and animals

The Earth needs our help

Inspire us, help us, teach us to

Value our planet

And act to repair the damage done

Let us leave a healthy Earth to our children .

by Christine Taylor

Harvest is one of a kind Harvest time is the time of kindness

And get ready for winter Animals start hibernating

Rabbits go in their holes Rabbits go into their family holes

Vegetables are healthy Vegetables are sprouting

Easter is before Harvest Everyone is sharing

Summer starts to grow fruit and Tree leaves are starting to fall

vegetables by Faith and Emily

Trees leaves start to fall.

by Daisy

Harvest is life with hope Harvest is the time

All lives shall be the same All people come together

Rain, wind, snow is all we need Raiding the kitchen for food to give away

Vegetables are good for you Vegetables and fruits we give

Edible is good for us Everything we give contributes

Storms will decide to stop Season changes

The love we share are here To the autumn light

Anon by Ariana

HARVEST THOUGHTS During the service for Harvest the children collected their gifts together and we then

listened to a poem written by Christine to help us explore what Harvest Festival

means to us. The children then went on the write their own poems and thoughts

using the word HARVEST as a guide

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Harvest is a big deal because the people that don’t have food get food

Animals getting ready for the winter

Raspberries and blueberries

Vegetables growing in the dirt

Every animal if the forest getting ready for their nocturnal time

Sun coming up shorter in the day

To the people that don’t have enough food, food is coming

by Freya

Harvest brings happiness to those who aren’t happy

Autumn is when leaves start falling

Rain always causes floods and traffic

Vegetables are very good for the body

Eating too much sweets is bad for you

Summer is one of the hottest seasons of the year

Thank you for all the food we eat

by Daniella

Harvest is the time to celebrate giving food away to the homeless and the food bank

Around are lots of plants like wheat – we use wheat to make bread

Rubbish everywhere

Vegetables growing everywhere around us, we pick blueberries and strawberries

Everyone is thinking of others and giving things away

Stabled horses stay in, we give them food and help clean their homes

Time when things are growing, plants and vegetables grow

Time is special .

by Henry

Happiness is your sad

Apples fall from above

Remember the summer,

Vegetables if you feel like you are hungry

Eggs from the chickens throughout the summer

Share the food and eat

Trees shade us from the warm summer . Harvest celebrates

by Alex All God’s gifts

Rain, snow, sleet and sun

Visited the earth,

Earth is God’s creation

Sun is light for the earth

There are planets called Venus, Mars,

Earth, Moon Uranus and more.

by Gabriel

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Happy Harvest to everybody

All people should be able to eat at harvest

Right now is a weird and stressful time

Vegetables, fruit, jams you name it

Everyone can have food is you just ask

Streets, home, flats, house anywhere you live you can always get food from the

food banks

Treat others with respect and enjoy harvest time.

by Kara

Harvest is a time of giving Happiness is the key to live a good life

At the time it is snowing and raining All together save the world

Rain makes the vegetables grow Right together, side by side

Vegetables start to be picked Vegetables are harvested across the land

Every harvest we give food Everyone should help the world

Spending time we pick the vegetables Say “help the world”,

The leaves are starting to fall off the trees. Time to harvest in the world

by Callum by Seren

Harvest is a very good time of year to collect food for people who don’t have food

At harvest we give food to the food bank

Remember food for other people at harvest because they need more food

Very good time to share food with other people

Everyone who does not have food will get some

Some people get food from the food banks

Time of year to give

by Alice

Harvest is a time of year we give food

At harvest we give to the food bank

Rent food for people unfortunate

Very good time to give food

Everyone will get food

Some people don’t have much food

Time of year to remember to give food to others

by Sophie

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WE LOVE MILK, BUT FROM WHERE?

Dairy cows have serious competition these days: a third of young people are now

opting for vegan milk instead. Recent data from the global market research firm,

Mintel, has found that 23 per cent of Britons now use plant-based milk. It has be-

come most popular among the 16 to 24-year-olds.

Many millennials have switched to soya milk because of environmental concerns,

but the Sustainable Food Trust has recently warned that vegan milk could actually

be far more harmful to the environment. They say that grass-fed dairy milk poses

less of a threat to the Amazon and other rainforests than many soya products do.

HELP OUR WILDLIFE BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE

A quarter of mammals in the UK are at risk of extinction, and

this decline will continue unless their habitats are restored and

some species are reintroduced.

So warns the chair of Natural England, Tony Juniper, refer-

ring to a recent list of endangered animals issued by the Mam-

mal Society, and approved by the United Nations.

UK mammals most in danger are the greater mouse-eared bat, the water vole, the

hedgehog, hazel dormouse and Scottish wildcat. The European wolf is already ex-

tinct.

Tony Juniper advises that reintroducing some mammals would help others at

greater risk. For example, introducing more pine martens would help control the

grey squirrels, which in turn would give our native red squirrels a better chance.

As one professor of environmental biology said: “Here in Britain we are managing

to send even rodents towards extinction. Things have to change rapidly if we want

our children and grandchildren to enjoy the wildlife that we take for granted.”

WHEN DID YOU LAST BUY A SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BAG?

It seems that most of us have bought just four from our supermarket in the last

year, which is a drop of 95 per cent since the 5p charge was introduced five years

ago.

The Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs reports that prior to

2015, most shoppers were buying 140 single-use bags a year.

But sadly, the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the bigger war on plastics, with

a huge rise in throwaway personal protective equipment, and a resurgence in single-

use cups, cutlery and other items.

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GIVE AWAY THE JESUS STORY AS TOLD BY MARK

The Talking Jesus research showed that for 27% of practising Christians, reading

the Bible for themselves was a key influence in their coming to faith. As a result of

the research, HOPE Together decided to find out what Bible a non-Christian would

pick up and read.

When 800 non-Christians were asked this question, the majority wanted some-

thing short, well-designed and contemporary in look and feel. Based on this evi-

dence HOPE Together and Biblica have published a beautifully illustrated version

of Mark’s Gospel, designed in a magazine-style and printed on quality paper, mak-

ing it an attractive gift to give away to friends, colleagues and family, people who

visit your church and those in your community who are exploring faith.

Order copies from the HOPE shop hopetogether.org.uk/shop

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As a teenager, one Easter holiday I was one of a group of 11-16-year-olds back-

packing along Hadrian's Wall - before this was a National Trail. A man stopped his

car at the top of a long hill, and as we passed he handed us little copies of a Gospel.

That evening I could hear discussions from the other tents as my fellow walkers

made use of their new reading material. I don't know the long term impact of this (I

was already a Christian), or why he had the booklets with him, but it was an effec-

tive way of getting teenagers to read at least a bit of the Bible. Ed

HELPING THE SPIRITUALLY CURIOUS FIND HOPE

HOPE Spaces was launched at the start of 2020 inviting churches to use a public

place as a space for the spiritually curious to explore prayer. Then the world went

into lockdown. Undeterred, HOPE Together has developed a virtual HOPE Space

at hopespaces.com to help people to pray – maybe for the first time.

Dr Rachel Jordan-Wolf, who inspired the project says, “As lockdown began and

research showed that many non-Christians were exploring prayer, we looked online

and found that most websites about prayer were for practising Christians. So we

began to develop a virtual HOPE Space online, where people can post their prayers

and explore ways to engage with God in prayer.”

hopespaces.com is a multimedia, interactive site for anyone who wants to try pray-

ing, the spiritually curious and anyone looking for hope. It includes a specially-

made film to help people call out to God and a virtual HOPE prayer wall where

anyone can post a prayer. There’s also a meditation on rest to watch, plus content to

help visitors think about their life’s direction and pray for justice or peace.

“Would you help us to publicise this non-Christian facing website?” Rachel asks.

“Visit the site at hopespaces.com and share it with your friends, especially those

who are not-yet Christians. You can download social media images to use. We hope

that Christians will use social media to invite their friends, colleagues, and

neighbours to explore prayer at hopespaces.com ”

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CHARITIES CREATE TIPS FOR TEACHERS TO HELP YOUNG CARERS

The Children’s Society and Carers Trust have been helping teachers give more

support to young carers, as they came back to school this autumn.

Research suggests as many as one in five pupils in secondary schools in England

are young carers. Because of the high numbers, the charities, who jointly run the

Young Carers in Schools initiative, have produced a short, practical guide for

school staff to enable them to help these young people.

During the coronavirus crisis, many young carers have faced a particularly stress-

ful time. 58% of young carers aged 12 to 17 reported they were caring on average

for an extra ten hours a week since the start of the pandemic.

Helen Leadbitter, The Children’s Society lead for Young Carers, said: “For many

young carers, lockdown was a very lonely time, as school was often seen as a place

for them to have a break from caring roles and seek support from teachers and

friends. It is vital teachers recognise the signs of a young carer and understand how

best to support their needs.”

The guidance, which has been issued to schools via the Department for Education

(DFE) can also be found at https://youngcarersinschools.com/covid-19/ Carers

Trust and The Children’s Society are available to offer support, free of charge.

More info at: www.youngcarersinschools.com

UK NEEDS A NEW SPECIAL ENVOY FOR FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF

Following Rehman Chishti’s recent resignation as Prime Minister’s Special Envoy

on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Open Doors, who works with the Persecuted

Church, has called for another Special Envoy to be appointed as quickly as possible,

“to continue this important work”.

It was in September that Rehman Chishti MP resigned his position. He had been a

“tireless advocate”, said Open Doors, on the important issue of freedom of religion

or belief, and during his time, 17 of the 22 Truro Report recommendations had been

progressed or implemented.

The Bishop of Truro’s Independent Review was produced in 2019 for the UK For-

eign Secretary of Foreign and Commonwealth Office Support for Persecuted Chris-

tians. It examined how the UK Government was responding to the plight of perse-

cuted Christians around the world, and what it could do.

Open Doors urges that it is vital that a new Special Envoy is appointed soon. Izzy,

from the Open Doors Advocacy team, says: “As persecution has been exacerbated

as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is vital that the baton is picked up as rapidly

as possible and the post is fully resourced to ensure maximum effectiveness. It

would be great if a new Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief were al-

ready up to speed on this vital task by the time of the Open Doors World Watch List

launch event on Wednesday 13th January 2021 – and making a difference for those

made so vulnerable to persecution by the failure to uphold freedom of religion or

belief.

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UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FROM ARCHBISHOPS’ COUNCIL ON SAFEGUARDING PROPOSALS

The Archbishops’ Council, at a recent meeting, voted unanimously for safe-

guarding proposals to offer both immediate practical support to survivors of abuse

and also to strengthen independence in the Church’s safeguarding work.

The Council approved a proposed plan for an interim pilot support scheme for

survivors and agreed to draw down reserves for an initial support fund to support

those who have come forward. The Council also committed to pursue urgently

the principle of independent safeguarding recognising the need for greater inde-

pendence and transparency of safeguarding

The pilot scheme is designed to enable the Church to respond in particular to

those survivors’ cases which are already known to the Church, where the survi-

vor is known to be in seriously distressed circumstances, and the Church has a

heightened responsibility because of the way the survivor was responded to fol-

lowing disclosure.

Experience with these pilot cases will help inform the setting up of the

Church’s full redress scheme for victims and survivors of abuse as that is devel-

oped. Part of the value of a pilot scheme is that it will enable the Church to ex-

plore different ways of working and to learn important lessons for the future.

SAFE SPACES LAUNCHES TO OFFER SUPPORT TO SURVIVORS

A new service providing vital support for survivors of church-related abuse has

recently become operational.

Safe Spaces, commissioned by the Anglican and Catholic Churches in England

and Wales, is to be run by Victim Support, a national charity with a track record

of providing survivor support.

Safe Spaces is a free and independent support service, providing a confidential,

personal and safe space for anyone who has been abused through their relation-

ship with either the Church of England, Church in Wales or the Catholic Church

of England and Wales.

Safe Spaces comprises a team of trained support advocates, who have under-

gone specialist training in supporting survivors of sexual violence and who have

received additional specific training in how the churches respond to abuse cases,

and the particular issues affecting people who have had or still have, a relation-

ship with the church.

The service is for those who may have experienced any form of abuse, includ-

ing sexual abuse, physical abuse, financial abuse, psychological abuse (including

spiritual abuse), domestic abuse, coercive and controlling behaviour.

The service will run for an initial two years, with a view to extending this. It

has been paid for by the Catholic and Anglican churches involved, supported by

a grant from Allchurches Trust.

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CHURCHES REPORT RISING FOOD BANK DEMAND AS A RESULT OF PANDEMIC

Nearly 100,000 households sought food aid from

the Trussell Trust’s network of food banks for the

first time earlier this year, as a result of the coro-

navirus pandemic. Demand is surging further this

autumn, as a result of the economic fallout from

the virus.

The research comes after food banks run or sup-

ported by Church of England churches reported

rocketing demand during lockdown with some

opening food banks for the first time while some

opened new food banks after lockdown.

Just two examples:

Hackney Church in East London was distributing parcels with enough food for

1,000 meals a week at start of lockdown. This figure rose to 8,000 and 9,000

meals a week in June, after the church opened a second food bank. It has since

served 120,000 meals.

In Co. Durham, the Shildon Alive food bank, founded by St John’s Church, has

seen demand surge by 500 percent during lockdown.

St. Hilda's is now supporting the food bank run by the Salvation Army. Our

Harvest Festival gifts went there. To donate more, put your gifts in the chest at

the back of the church.. Ed

DIAMONDS ARE FOR LOCKDOWN…

Here’s an unexpected outcome of Covid-19: it has inspired more of us to get en-

gaged.

Engagement rings sales have risen this year, in some firms by up to 73 per cent, a

survey of various jewellery firms has discovered.

When, at the beginning of lockdown, Dr Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical

officer, suggested that couples could get round the coming isolation by moving in

together, it seems that many listened to her. They decided to give it a go and ‘test

the strength of their relationship.’

“A lot of people have now resolved to go ahead and tie the knot,” said one jewel-

ler. “Perhaps they are thinking: ‘life’s too short, let’s go for it’.”

Another jeweller said: “Maybe if you can make it through lockdown together, you

can make it through anything.”

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